The Mi'ihen High Road had a midpoint between its start and finish.
A little hut and some fencing under the handling of one 'Rin'. The place was overlooking more ruins of sunken metallic cities, long washed out by now. It wasn't strange to admit that Spira felt like a post-apocalyptical world.
Was it strange to see a world trying to live on despite some unkillable monster that attacked at some undetermined amount of time, wiping cities off the map before sinking away? Perhaps, but there was also a morbid desire to cheer the people on.
You watched Tidus and Yuna talk on the cliff with the dazzling sun in front of them. You hung back as the rest of the party relaxed. Lulu glared, Wakka looked like thinking was painful, and Auron drank.
Kimahri was nearby Yuna, not-listening to their angsty romance develop. Those two were so obvious that even a heartless being like yourself could see the puppy love.
"What a beautiful sight," a man with shoulder-length blond hair commented He leaned against the door of the agency with a smile.
"Love both forbidden and innocent. Such is the curse of a summoner," the man sighed as he looked down at you.
"Don't you agree?" he asked.
"I suppose there is beauty in what is fleeting," you replied, not really committing one way or the other to this stranger. His eyes lit up.
"Ah, your Al Bhed is impeccable. I did not recognise your garments or style of family. I presumed an orphan of the Al Bhed," he admitted. You frowned. The two languages were interlaced with the same characters, the number of letters, grammatic style... it was hard to tell when you spoke one over the other.
"I am Eraqus. Nobody of importance I assure you," you said and the man merely eyed you.
"No one travelling with a Summoner is ever unimportant," he said with a tone of knowing before he entered the shop once more.
Well, he was a character. You floated around the back of the shop and out of sight as something inside yourself was bubbling... trying to give rise to something. You focused inwards as classes and potential bloomed before you, a choice to make.
You saw silvery and black spheres with blazing images within. One of a giant great sword. One of a musical instrument, one with a wicked scythe, one with a book of smoky pages...
A lance with wind whirling around it, a barrage of knives with a current between then, a pair of dice coming up snake-eyes, and more kept coming.
A long set of twin blades, a gleam about the edges, a burning wheel with spikes...
To your surprise... other things had risen since last time you looked.
A flower unfolding atop a staff, giving off a gentle light. A series of gears grinding together with wires lacing inwards. The last looked to be a series of fangs enclosing a magic circle.
You liked the look of that last one and picked it.
Your form flicked and shifted just as you anticipated. You were glad you took the time to hide first.
Your new outfit consisted of two golden rings that hovered around your hands, spinning with arcane symbols. Your head had a hat that seemed to sit sideway with a large feather curving backwards out of sight.
Learned the Blue Mage Class.
Class level: 1
Abilities:
Blue Mage: Reduce all incoming damage by 1
Blue Mage: Absorb: Drain the enemy of their essence and gain 3 HP. If for has learnable skill then roll a d100 and if higher than 80 then you learn the skill. This secondary ability does not benefit from any other bonuses to enhance its roll. Cost 3 NP.
Blue Mage: Sponge Body: If it hit with a learnable attack, roll a dice and pass a DC to learn it. DC depends on move.
Blue Mages cannot equip any weapons
This class was... interesting. You switched back to Sorcerer for the moment. When you found Auron, he was returning from the cliff where Yuna and Tidus looked appropriately chastised for their teenage shenanigans of being couply under a sunset on a romantic cliff.
"Should they not be allowed to cherish what little time they have?" you asked, calmly with as you crossed your arms.
"Yuna is exhausted. She was kidnapped, attacked by the Luca fiends, had my presence revealed to her, had everyone from nuns to soldiers questioning her conviction... yet she won't sleep because she wants to see the boy talking about Zanarkand. Being dead on her feet helps no one," Auron said without any care for feelings.
"We're sleeping here tonight... If you're like me... find something quiet to do. The dead and the empty seldom need sleep it turns out," he said quietly.
"No rest for the restless, it seems. I'm sure I can fill my time," You nodded as you had options.
One, to see how well your corridors of darkness held up here for interplanetary portals. Two, your new class needed power, and three... you liked to wander. It was what you did.
You wandered off with the Pryefly under your hat the only companion for the time being.
-
You stared at the sight of the creatures. Two of them bubbling around with fiery red auras. Your scan kicked in.
Bomb: 25 HP.
Their grinning demonic faces hadn't spotted you, but you switched to warrior and pulled back to focus on your newest power.
The ability to forge a blade out of the pure experience of your classes.
The first... of course... had to be the Warrior class itself. You focused and-
-
Awoke, standing on floating pieces of stained glass. Across the very incomplete circle platform stood Lexaeus. His large form still donned in his black cloak. His form had more stained glass under it but he showed how little he cared for that as he walked across the void with ease.
"Hello again," you said and Lexaeus begin to pick up speed, going from walking to jogging.
"Something tells me this isn't because you're excited to see me..." you said and saw you were still in your Warrior form and the other classes were... closed off. Lexaeus leapt into the air, his massive blade forming in one hand.
You dodge with ease and Lexaeus crashed down, shattering the piece of glass you had been standing on, sending its light into the abyss below.
"Rude... destroying one's hard work," you said and he merely began to glow with a yellow and purple aura and jumped again, aiming for you... or what you were standing on. You summoned Twilight Fang and decided to test your found strength against Lexaeus head on this time. Your blades clashed and for the first time, you saw a smile.
"Better," Lexaeus said and pushed you back before flipping down on his own.
"Maybe because you have some part of me... or this will happen all the time, but I am your symbol of the warrior. Your forge," Lexaeus began as his aura grew again.
"Dodging is wise, but this is your power, you should not fear your own power if you have sufficient control," he said, pointing his blade.
"Power is but an extension of one's self, and what is a sword if not power wrought in steel? I suppose I've gotten so used to being made of glass that I needed a reminder," you admitted, fully feeling the Warrior's power flowing through you.
The Warrior was not pure power, that was another class.
The Warrior was not the quickest, that belonged to another.
The Warrior was not the one able to block all damage.
The Warrior was... dependable. The ever-reliable corner skill no matter what class you obtained or foe you faced. Your soul here was stalwart and unbreakable.
The Warrior could help in any circumstance, even if it did not excel. It would chip away at gods with determination and skill alone.
The Warrior was not a god slayer, but it would do the job if push came to shove.
Lexaeus seemed to sense this and lowered his blade.
"You know the truth. Our fight is not needed, but others may push regardless. Be careful... Eraqus," Lexaeus warned as his form began to break down into golden motes.
"I will. Thank you for your strength, Lexaeus," you said as he turned away, his stoic expression back in place.
"Don't thank me yet... the road ahead is long," he promised and vanished, leaving behind a blade that slowly floated down to your waiting hand.
The thing a golden blade with a rim of purple. The hilt was made of a polished granite-like brown rock that a single crystal acted as a handle.
Rough and hefty came to mind when you saw this sword. It fitted in your hand comfortably, but the weight it held was a constant reminder you held some power.
Silent Warrior: A blade formed by the first steps of a warrior. Does 5+D7 of sharp or blunt damage depending on need. Increased the base damage of this weapon by 1 each time you lose health. Switching class resets this bonus. Does not carry between battle's
-
Returning to the outside world, you saw you now held the very weapon forged in your heart... well tiny pieces of such a thing. Returning your attention to the Bombs, you struck one in an ambush as it neared, your new sword becoming coated in ice.
Damage with iceblade: 17+d7 = 24!
Bomb1 = 1/25 HP. all rolls -10.
The bomb was encased by the ice before it shattered so loudly the thing was gushing streaming of fire as it bounced back in fury, screeching as it banged its little arms on the ground. It didn't felt pain... no more than its undead and 'unsent' position already caused it.
The remaining bomb turned to you with hate as the injured one just picked itself back up, leaking Pyreflies somewhat.
You were perhaps a little surprised by the sheer damage you did so missed the fact the healthy bomb moved first, slamming towards you with the grace of a cannonball.
It fumbled its aim badly and you turned, slashing it lightly as you spun it back to the other bomb as if guiding a volleyball.
Bomb2: 25 21
The two bombs meet with a smack before the weak one simply broke apart.
Bomb1 defeated!
You moved in with another ice blade already formed, flakes of snow trailing behind you like blossoms in spring.
Damage: 21
You moved past the Bomb as it froze both literally and spiritually. You stood there for a long moment, blade extended as the wisps of snow fell to the ground, a trail between you and the Bomb. You stood finally and flicked the sword, dispersing a single drop of burning liquid.
The fiend split into two halves before fading away in the haunting echo of wind.
Gained 24 exp + 2 = 26.
Two Bomb Cores gained.
Inflicted 10 fire damage to all foes close together.
Now... should you hunt again or go back?
The night was young. You moved on.
-
Twilight Town always made Xion feel like a good day was about to end. A mix of good times and the encroaching end of their time together.
Roxas hadn't woke up yet. Xion couldn't bring herself to get ice-cream on her own. Her mission continued to be 'eradicating the Heartless' across all the worlds. Weirdly, Xenmas seemed to stare at Roxas as he slumbered, looking troubled... if the Superior could ever display anything other than cold detachment.
"Come, look for some Heartless," Xion said to herself, trying to psyche herself up as she went through a portal.
The other side was beautiful. Yet, she felt pulled here more than she was meant to be here. Xion was aiming for Olympus Colosseum! She moved about this island with a touch of curiosity... maybe nervousness.
Something inside her felt at peace here and another rebelled against her being here. Xion and not...
Someone else.
She stood on the sands as the crystal blue ocean lapped at her Organization heels. She bent down, attracted to a white shell that washed ashore. Xion picked it up.
"Roxas might like this," she said to herself, smiling.
"Are you... Kairi?" someone asked and Xion spun in surprise, barely stopping herself from summoning Roxas' Keyblade. The speaker was an odd woman with hair that made the ocean look pale in comparison.
Tall and wearing an outfit that seemed more designed for a special group or school, the blue-haired woman looked kind to the eye. Xion shook her heard but clutched at her head for a moment as the name 'Kairi' swam about like a startled fish.
Startled, she felt the woman guide her to the tree on the tiny off-land.
"Easy now... I didn't want to ask, but are you related to the Organization? That coat is..." the woman trailed off and something under the confused memories came a slumbering emotion so deep that it was beyond anything Xion had ever felt.
"I... can't talk about that," Xion finally managed and the woman just smiled.
"That's fair. I'm Aqua, what's your name? You look just like Kairi, but I dunno, you seem different up close," she offered a hand out for Xion to shake.
"Xion," she said finally and the emotions in her chest were in such turmoil because of Aqua it made her want to run as far away as possible but also cling to the woman like a lifeline.
"Xion... that's a nice name. Better than some names beginning with X I've met," Aqua promised as she joined Xion on the tree with the strange yellow fruit growing near the top.
"Why are you here?" Xion wanted to pull her hood up... or was it up? She had a hard time remembering.
"Like always, looking for people who went missing. A friend of mine stopped turning up for reports or to some friends. He's a good person if a bit strange," Aqua promised as she leaned back to enjoy the sun.
"I have a friend who isn't missing but I can't seem to find him all the same," Xion offered, feeling unsure on what to do.
"I know that feeling. My friend helped me when I was most lost. I should do the same but he had a way of just... listening to things that I can't. He could hear hearts or worlds or... his friends so easily," Aqua smiled, sounding less upset and more relaxed.
"You don't sound too worried," Xion pointed out, rubbing the wood under her with a gloved hand.
"Eraqus is a weird one. If he's going to be in trouble... he'd just walk out of danger with a dry remark ten minutes later," Aqua shook her head.
"Era..qus. A Dusk?" Xion blinked and Aqua looked at her with surprise.
"You know him?" she asked, sounding hopeful.
"He was the weird Dusk who I had to protect because he was so... soft..." Xion said slowly, cheeks turning pink.
"He was a bit... developed in other ways," Aqua admitted before she coughed. "I'm sure he's improving!" Aqua added quickly.
-
You felt the urge to cough on some comedic timing as you were bucked and swung around, the angry Dual-Horn underneath you raging as it failed to do more than smash into ruins and injure itself.
-
"I think he's somewhere I can't follow. That's what my Heart is telling me, but I think he's alright. Eraqus makes friends where ever he goes," Aqua beamed and it was an expression that Xion had to smile back to.
Aqua's smile fell as Xion shed a tear but Xion had no idea why.
Xion just gave in as Aqua held her close.
"You've not had a good time, either, have you?" Aqua whispered soothingly and Xion hiccuped as the sun set over the ocean.
-
Across on the mainland, a girl with short hair sighed as she walked home. The mayor was nice but between the world falling to darkness and returning, no one had noticed she had gone missing. Riku's family moved away... or had never come back.
No one really remembered Riku all that well.
And... no one remembered...
Kairi slowed as her Heart seemed to ache.
Who did they not remember?
She looked across the sea and to the islands where she both wanted to go and felt uncertain about. Kairi looked to the Mayor's home and ran off to the dock where small boat awaited.
Something was calling her to the island and she felt... excited. She took some time to cross, but she stumbled to the island with bright eyes.
Yet when she arrived, all she found was a shell on the tree of the Papou fruit. Kairi picked it up with a frown.
"Sor-"
-
The Dual Horn broke apart into many Pyreflies and you felt just a little bruised.
Still, it was a good fight.
HP: 2725
Exp: 25+2 = 27!
Total: 53
Relaxing under the stars, you funnelled your gained power into your new class. The Blue Mage.
Total exp left: 22
Blue Mage is level 2!
General: Dodge crit is now 94-100!
Scan upgraded to Scanra: Now see a name, hp, and short descriptor of the foe. Some moves that are learnable may be seen this way.
Blue Mage: Soul Siphon: Roll a d100 after an enemy is defeated. If they have a learnable move, roll a 95 or higher to learn that move.
Blue Mage: Devour: Ingest items to occasionally learn a move or turn the item into an attack or move. Potion becomes cure. Blaze Shard becomes Fire.
You felt stronger... and perhaps gutsier.
After some searching, all the fiends seem to be either hiding or... running away from something. Certainly not yourself since you were still just one sock against the world.
"Aren't you an interesting one," came that voice of husk and darkness. From the shadows, Lulu stepped forward, in her arms a black cat with a golden crown, a doll of sorts.
"So I have been told. Many seem to think I'm a rather odd thing. Is that why you decided to keep an eye on me?" you asked and her red eyes glowed in the dark, reflecting pale moonlight.
She wasn't that far from the agency, but the fact she even left Yuna behind for a moment spoke of serious Lulu thought.
A terrible notion.
"Mostly thinking. A mage is one thing, but an adept warrior and some form that feels like Kimarhi. I don't usually get involved but you worry me. Don't take it personally, you aren't the only one," she assured you.
"What's to worry?" you said calmly. "Believe me when I say it is hard for me to feel insulted. And I did say that I lent myself to many talents. I am just used to being in the back lines, providing aid," you promised. Lulu didn't say anything, but her doll suddenly became alert and moved on its own, jumping to the ground.
"To be a black mage, a focus and innate talent will get you far, but it's not hard to say that anyone can learn magic. My focus is my dolls. Powerful vessels made of the real remnants of fiends bound in the form of mythical and legendary creatures. It is not an exaggeration to say that when I channel magic, my power and mind manifest through them," Lulu said, lecturing you almost out of nowhere as her doll walked about on its own as Lulu talked.
That spoke, if Lulu was correct, of tremendous multitasking of magic and mind.
"You feel like that. Magic flowing through a vessel, but without a mage to hold you up," Lulu said, voice not angry, but factual.
"A not entirely wrong observation. What is it you wish to do with that information, if I am so bold to ask? Glean truth from me or discuss with me on the formalities of magic and my existence?" you asked and Lulu was quiet for only seconds.
"I ask that you don't harm Yuna or stop her Pilgrimage. I don't care otherwise," Lulu said abruptly.
"I have no intention of doing anything to hurt Yuna," you admitted honestly. Lulu nodded then walked over.
"Dispel your illusion. It's good but it leaves a lot to be desired," she instructed. You did so and she gave you a once over.
"Artificial..." she said slowly, looking you up and down.
"No, they look quite natural," you said dryly. Lulu gave you a look that could melt a fire elemental before she bent down to hold a hand over your head.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Eraqus, a Nobody of Importance," you said and Lulu brushed her hair back.
"Nobody. You feel... hollow. Like something that has been emptied of all things and you filled it with whatever you could. I sense power... magic...," Lulu said then without asking, she picked up and in one arm, your weightlessness helping her.
"May I ask what you're-" you began but then Lulu's magic rushed through you like a conduit and you watched as her fire magic impacted the ground in the form of a fiery blade. Lulu gasped silently, her mouth opening a touch.
Anyone else that would mean jaw on the ground.
"Amazing... your body is a natural conductor of my intent and magic," she said and you sat there.
"I need an adult," you said slowly.
"Your options are me, Auron, or Wakka... your options are slim," Lulu replied calmly.
"Then I suppose my safeword is Reversal. Please be gentle, as I am not experienced with this sort of handling," you said and Lulu rolled her eyes.
"Yevon cleanse your mind. This was but an experiment. I can't go wielding you in battle. You stand out like a Chocobo inside a temple," Lulu said and put you down where her cat doll sat lifelessly.
"Well, were the results satisfactory? I happen to have other hats I can wear, and they might alter the result," you said and Lulu shook her head.
"Wakka is just getting used to you as the lost Al Bhed child needing a good home. He might come after you with holy texts soon. Auron and you have some bond... be your own person and not someone else's puppet. Yuna has no need of puppets," Lulu explained before she shuffled off, her dress weirdly seeming not to shift or move.
"I'll have you know I'm a very independent sock thing. Just something to consider later if you need a power boost," you said, easily catching up, slipping your disguise back on.
"Real mages don't use experimental focuses. It's either old and legendary or silent," Lulu said back, half-joking.
"Only experimental if you lack understanding," you offered. Lulu was confident in her reply.
"I doubt your closest friends understand you fully," Lulu said casually.
Aqua was your oldest companion and she sort of knew that you did things she didn't understand at all like turn into a hoverbike.
"No, I suppose not. But they're trying, and I think that's what matters in the end," you said.
"Yes... in the end, all we can do is try," Lulu agreed.
Lulu N-Link agained.
Magic base damage +1